The Role of Emotions: Helping Behavior and Rape Myth Acceptance
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Psychology
Minor
Non-Profit Leadership Studies
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Marie Karlsson
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
This study builds on previous research that found that elevating emotions through observing altruistic stimuli correlated to an increased in volunteer participation (Schnall, Roper & Fessler, 2010). The purpose of the current study was to apply this idea to in order to change people’s perspective on sexual assault victims. In part 1, participants completed an online survey about volunteer experiences, prosocial behaviors, and rape myths. In part 2, participants were randomly assigned to either watch a video of prosocial behavior (“Oprah condition”) or a video of the ocean (control condition). It was hypothesized that individuals who were exposed to emotionally elevating stimuli (Oprah condition) would show a reduction in acceptance of rape myths from part 1 to part 2 while individuals in the control condition would not (Ocean condition). Forty-five participants completed both parts of this study and were included in the current analyses (82% White; 82% female; mean age = 18.73, SD =1.01). Participants in the Oprah condition rated their video as more emotionally engaging compared to the control condition (ps < .001). Results from a mixed model ANOVA showed a significant interaction between experimental condition (Oprah or Ocean) and rape myth acceptance scores, Wilks’ Lambda = .82, F (1, 39) = 8.88, p = .005 partial eta squared = .19. As hypothesized, only participants who watched Oprah evidenced a significant reduction in their acceptance of rape myths. These results suggest that elevating people’s emotions might be helpful when trying to reduce myths associated with sexual assault.
Affiliations
Psychology: Completed Projects
The Role of Emotions: Helping Behavior and Rape Myth Acceptance
This study builds on previous research that found that elevating emotions through observing altruistic stimuli correlated to an increased in volunteer participation (Schnall, Roper & Fessler, 2010). The purpose of the current study was to apply this idea to in order to change people’s perspective on sexual assault victims. In part 1, participants completed an online survey about volunteer experiences, prosocial behaviors, and rape myths. In part 2, participants were randomly assigned to either watch a video of prosocial behavior (“Oprah condition”) or a video of the ocean (control condition). It was hypothesized that individuals who were exposed to emotionally elevating stimuli (Oprah condition) would show a reduction in acceptance of rape myths from part 1 to part 2 while individuals in the control condition would not (Ocean condition). Forty-five participants completed both parts of this study and were included in the current analyses (82% White; 82% female; mean age = 18.73, SD =1.01). Participants in the Oprah condition rated their video as more emotionally engaging compared to the control condition (ps < .001). Results from a mixed model ANOVA showed a significant interaction between experimental condition (Oprah or Ocean) and rape myth acceptance scores, Wilks’ Lambda = .82, F (1, 39) = 8.88, p = .005 partial eta squared = .19. As hypothesized, only participants who watched Oprah evidenced a significant reduction in their acceptance of rape myths. These results suggest that elevating people’s emotions might be helpful when trying to reduce myths associated with sexual assault.